5 Tips for Starting Over

Many people going through a divorce, or at various other meaningful points in their life, decide it is time for some wholesale changes, time to start over. You might be in this situation because of the end of a relationship, the loss of a job, the last of your children leaving home, or the occurrence of some other event. It may just be that you have reached middle age. As you face making major changes in your life, you should consider the following actions to help your transition.

Visualize how you would like your life to be and then keep that image in mind. Write down how you want your life to be and then create goals that are consistent with that image. Take steps that move you toward the goals you have set.

Get a financial check-up from a CPA or financial planner.(Make sure you start off with a fee-for-service professional, rather than a commissioned sales person.) Check your credit history. Create a budget and live within it. Do some long range planning, including for retirement.

Look for new interests. You can improve your emotional well-being by trying new things. Look for a new job or a part-time job. Become active in your church, synagogue or religious community. Take classes at a college. Explore new hobbies or money-making opportunities. Join new social groups. Reconnect with family members.

Get healthy.Schedule a physical check-up. Start a new exercise program or class. Concentrate on being healthy and trying new physical activities. Work out and make new friends at the same time. Resume sports that you enjoyed in the past. Get your friends involved.

Do a career check-up.Do you like your job? Are you considering a change? Take an aptitude test to see what careers suit you. Consider learning new job skills or finding a new job. Take on new responsibilities at work.

Times of change provide an opportunity for reflection, motivation and personal growth. You can turn a difficult time into an opportunity for a better life. Get help from friends. Don’t try to do everything by yourself. Create a new support group if your old friends are no longer around. You can find friends in new activities or by helping other people through a charity or volunteer organization that you believe in. If you are forced into changing your life, make your world better.

If you are going through a divorce or are experiencing other family issues, we can help direct you to appropriate resources to help you successfully deal with the stresses that are inevitably associated with those situations. Please feel free to call for referrals or other assistance.